Why single out the police?

The granting of an additional allowances and benefits to national government agencies employees is stipulated in Section 458 of Republic Act 7160, or the Local Government Code of the Philippines of 1991.

Section 458 states “Powers, Duties, Functions and Compensation: a) ‘The Sangguniang Panlungsod, as the legislative body of the city shall enact ordinances, approved resolutions and appropriate funds for the general welfare of the city and its inhabitants pursuant to Section 16 of this Code and in the proper exercise of the corporate powers of the city as provided for under Section 22 of this Code and shall:

“Under paragraph 1, sub-paragraph (xi) it states: “When the finances of the city government allow, provides additional allowances and other benefits to judges, prosecutors, public elementary and high school teachers, and other national government officials stationed in or assigned to the city.”

There is no mention here that only employees and officials who are residing in and registered voters of the local government unit (LGU) can avail themselves of these allowances and benefits. The “former political has been” has imposed a new criteria in granting monthly allowances to policemen assigned at the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) in next year’s annual budget. Though, that may be under the discretion of the city executive. But this new policy is unfair.

The “former political has been” has ordered the chief of the peace and order program to recommend to the city council that only those policemen residing in and registered voters of Cebu City can avail themselves of the monthly allowance, citing financial reason. It has been approved by the administration’s allied members who composed the majority in the council.

There are 1,200 policemen assigned at the CCPO. The city director is receiving P8,000, while the precinct commanders receives P6,000 and the ordinary policemen receive P2,500. Aside from the police force, there are several other employees of national government agencies that are in the peace and order functions like the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and Maritime Police who also receive the same benefits.

Regional Trial Court and City Court judges, city prosecutors and teachers also receive the same allowances. Judges and prosecutors are receiving P25,000 and P10,000 in monthly allowance, respectively.

Why single out the police? The reasons are obvious. It’s because of political and personal reasons. The “former political has been” is politicizing the issues as he want to make sure that policemen who are registered voters in the city will vote for him and in his entire slate in next year’s elections. Personal in the sense that he is at a loggerheads with City Director Royina Garma and PRO 7 Chief Sebold Sinas.

He wants that these two police officers who are perceived as his nemesis will kneel before him. Their conflict stemmed after the “former political has been” accused the police of masterminding the attempted ambush of his political ally, Tejero Councilor Jessielou “Jingjing” Cadungog.

If this is not too personal against police, why won’t the “former political has been” adopt the same criteria to other national government agencies employees who are also receiving such allowances? Para patas ug kuridas.

My friends used to frown on my personal tales of doing stuff alone. It seems that not everyone feels comfortable doing groceries or malling alone; certainly not in the early ‘90s when I started doing so!